The transfers of football starts are more-often-than-not a complex process. Several factors go into the making to enable the movement of footballers. While some switches are more than anticipated, others come as a total surprise. One of the factors that determine the transfers are the comfort that a football player might have experienced in their old clubs.
Here are some of the players who returned to their old Premier League club:
Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City)
In one of the most surprising transfers of the 2024 summer, Ilkay Gundogan is heading back to Manchester City after spending a season in Spanish club Barcelona. The German led City to a treble win in 2023 and left for Barcelona soon after. However, the beleaguered financial situation of the La Liga club might have compelled Gundogan to leave Camp Nou and return to the Premier League. There was no way Pep would have forgotten the opportunity.
Paul Pogba (Manchester United)
Paul Pogba ‘s return to Manchester United was big news for the large fan base of the club. This is because he had dazzled in his previous club Juventus. The French player had spent only a season (2011-12) at Old Trafford appearing only on three occasions for the club and scoring nil. He made a decent mark in his second spell with United scoring 29 goals in 154 appearances.
Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United)
Cristiano Ronaldo joined Manchester United in 2003 and featured for the club till 2009. In between he scored 84 goals for the Reds in 196 appearances. The Portuguese then left for La Liga’s hot and favourite Real Madrid and moved to Italy’s Juventus in 2018. Ronaldo returned to Premier League in 2021 and played for a season. Ronaldo had a lukewarm second spell at Old Trafford, scoring 19 goals in 40 appearances.
Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur)
Gareth Bale left Tottenham Hotspur for Real Madrid in 2013 as the most expensive player of all time. In his first stint with Tottenham from 2007 to 2013, he scored 42 goals in 146 appearances. He made a comeback to the club in 2020 on a loan for a season and 11 goals in 20 appearances. He returned to the Premier League with four Champions League titles but missed that kind of popularity in La Liga.
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Wayne Rooney (Everton)
Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney made his club debut at Everton and made 77 appearances for the team and scored 15 goals in the two seasons he spent there. The Englishman then left for Manchester United where he spent 13 years before heading back to Everton 2017 for a season. The midfielder scored 10 goals in 31 appearances during his second chapter with Everton.
